Electric-current tap and connecter fitting



April 16, 1929. H. HERTZBERG ELECTRIC CURRENT'TAP AND CONNECTER FITTING Filed June 23, 1926 INVEN I OR /7 4 r 7 Hertz berg, BY a ATTORNEY to be connected Patented Apr. 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

HARRY HERTZBERG, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MORRIS PROPP, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y.

nnno'rnrc-cunnnnr '11? AND connncrnn FITTING.

Application filed June 23,

My invention relates to the art of electrical decorative devices and deals more particularly with a current ta) and connecter which are designed to permit the connection of a number of different lighting sets employing low voltage incandescent lamps arranged in series.

In the decoration of Christmas trees, and the like ornamental lighting, using small incandescent lamps designed to take the place of candles, groups of such lamps are connected in series across the usual house supply mains. In decorat ing a Christmas tree in this manner, it is necessary to have a large number of interconnectible circuits and it is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved and practical means which will permit a plurahty of sets of low voltage lamps together from a single source of electricity.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a comparatively inexpensive and yet efiicient means for detachably joining two electric circuits.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

Certain features herein shown and described are shown, described, and claimed in my 'co-pending application, Serial No. 117,999 filed in the United States Patent Office on the 23rd day of June, 1926,. and accordingly not claimed herein.

Withthe above exception, the invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangementof parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated -in claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrativeembodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a current tapping device embodying the invention applied to a Christmas tree 1i hting outfit, portions of the circuit bein sihown diagrammatically.

Fig. 2 is a si e elevation proved device.

Fig. 3 is a in F ig; 1. I

Fig. 4 is a side of one of proved device.

view of the imthe following section taken on line 3-3 192 Serial No. 118,000. 7

F ig. 5 is a plan view showing the current carrying portions and conductors removed from the base sections.

' Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the current carrying portion removed from the base sections.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a blank from which a current carrying member is formed.

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on lines 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 1010 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a perspective .view of the current carrying portion removed from the modified formshown in Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawing, 10 denotes a current tap or connecter embodying my invention applied to a group of low voltage incandescent lamps L, such as a decorative Christmas tree lighting outfit shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. The device 10 comprisesinsulated base sections 11 and 12 which are formed identically and which are held together by the bolt 13. As shown in Fig. 4, the base sections 11 and 12 are formed with the grooves 14 and 15 which permit the insertion of the conductors 16, the latter being connected with a source of electricity (not shown) by means of attachment plugcap C.. Current carrying members 17 which are designed to receive the plug-caps of other Christmas tree outfitsor the like are formed in the following manner: Referring now to "Fig. 7, a blank B is made of any suitable v conducting springy material to have a rectangular mid-section 18 and extension contacts 19 and 20, preferably formed at opposite edges thereof. A small flap 21 is stamped out of the mid-section 18 and is bent into shape to form a suitable binding terminal 17.

The contacts 19 and 20 are then folded over the opposite faces of The extension contact member 17 comprises two plates at right angles to each other and integrally united by a third plate as shown more clearly in Figure 6. Extension contacts 19 and 20 may be provided with protuberances or nipples 21 which are useful in holding the blades 31 of a plug-cap of a connecting circuit in the well understood manner.

Two of these members 17 which have been formed as described above are now placed in suitably formed cavities 24 in the base sections 11 and 12, said members 17 being positioned with respect to each other so that if their bent faces including contacts 19 and 20 were extended there would be formed a square. It is also important to note here i that the members 17 when mounted in the base sections 11 and 12 are placed so that the faces having the downwardly bent extensions are substantially parallel to each other and the faces having the upwardly bent extensions are substantially parallel to each other. It will thus be seen that the plug-cap 30 having blades 31, such as shown in Fig. 2, for example, might be inserted from either side of the connector 10 and makes contact through the conductors 16 with the electrical circuit connected to the plug cap 30.

Referring to Fig. 8 of the drawing. I have there shown a modified form embodying my invention in the form of a connector device 110 which may be used as a means to connect two electrical circuits. I construct this device exactly as described above for the current tap with the following changes:

The grooves 14 and 15 for receiving the.

conductors 16- -are omitted from the base sections 111 and 112 for the reason that it is not necessary to connect the device 110 to a source of electricity. Contact members 117 are provided which are similar in construction to the current carrying members 17 with terminals 17 eliminated, said members 117 being placed in the similar base sections 111 and 112 as described above for members 17. Two plug caps 130 may now be inserted from opposite sides of the connecter device 110 there being formed through the memis substantially equivalent to the length of,

the blades. of the connecting plug caps, al-. though said caps may be insertable from either side of said base sections.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be inter preted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A current'carrying device for a current tap comprising two plates disposed at right angles to each other, a third plate integrally united with said two plates, and extensions on said first mentioned two plates folded in reverse directions.

2. A current carrying device for a current tap comprising two plates disposed at right angles to each other, a third plate integrally united with said two plates together, extensions on said first mentioned two' plates folded in reverse directions, and a binding terminal on said third plate.

3. A current-carrying device for a current tap comprising two plates disposed at right angles to each other, a third plate integrally united with said two plates together, extensions on said first mentioned two plates folded in reverse directions, and a binding terminal formed from said third plate.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

HARRY HERTZBERG. 

